Wrapping and unwrapping machine



Feb. 19,1924. 1,484,409

F. M. PIERCE WRAPPING AND UNWRAPPING MACHINE Filed April 29. 1920 6 Sheets Sheet' 1 plum v Erc ' F.. M..PIERCE I WRAPPING AND UNWRAPPING MACHINE Filed April 29. 3,920 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 ww'" uuiililrmm 1 l W V F fl'l zerce Feb. 1.94 1924- 1,484,409 F. M. PIERCE WRAPPING AND UNWRAPPING MACHINE "Filed April 29 1920 6 sheets shet 5 I IMHH M 1,484,409 F. M. PIERCE WRAPPING AND UNWRAPPING MACHINE Feb. 19, 1924;

Filed Afiril 29. 1920 s sheet-sheei 4 9o R k-* Feb. 19, 1924. 1,484,4Q9

' F. M; PIERCE WRAPPING AND UNWRAPPING MACHINE Filed April 29'. 1920 6 Sheets-Sheet 5- Fran/ 1 fiP'erce I l/ Feb. 19, 1924. I 1,484,409

F.'M. PIERCE I WRAPPING AND UNWRAPPING MACHINE Filed'April 29. 1920 s Sheets-sheaf, 6

I a r Patented Feb. 19, 1924.

pairs!) sraras FRANK IVI. PIERCE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

WRAPPING AND UNWRAPPING MACHINE.

Application filed April 29,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK M. PIERCE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Wrapping and Unwrapping Machine; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the numerals of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in a wrapping and unwrapping machine. In the construction of tires or casings the tire is built up on a suitable mold until of the desired configuration and then an investing wrapper of wet canvas or other suitable material is wound about the same to firmly bind the various layers of material together. Afterwards the same is placed in the vulcanizer until the various layers are vulcanized into a homogenous mass, after which the layer of investing material is quickly and economically removed by the unwrapping machine.

It is an object, therefore, of this invention to provide a wrapping and unwrapping machine in which a shuttle is constantly rotated about the article to be wrapped or unwrapped and in which the reel or spool on which the strip of material is wound is driven synchronously with this shuttle.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved wrapping and unwrapping machine having a frictionally driven reel and means associated with the friction drive therefor for automatically adjusting the frictional efiect thereof for various depths of material on said reel.

It is another object of this invention to provide a machine of the class specified which is adjustable to operate on tire casings of various sizes and to operate on the different sized articles with equal efficiency.

It is an important ob'ect of this invention to provide an unwrapping machine having a rotatable shuttle with a rotatable winding reel mounted thereon and guiding means on the shuttle for aligning the strip of material on the winding reel.

It is also an important object of this invention to providea wrapping and unwrap- 1920. Serial No. 377,531.

ping machine having a rotatableshuttle and a housing on said shuttle wherein the driving mechanisms thereof are enclosed.

It is another important object of this inventlon to provide a wrapping and unwrapping machine having a conveniently reversible driving mechanism.

It is finally an important object of this invention to provide a wrapping and unwrapplng machine having a rotatable shuttle and means for rotating the object to be wrapped or unwrapped, said means being adapted to be conveniently manually disconnected with out affecting the rotation of the shuttle.

Other and further important objects of this invention will be apparent from the disclosures in the specification and drawings.

The invention (in a preferred form) is illustrated in the drawings and hereinafter more fully described.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a machine embodying this invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof.

vFigure 3 is a central vertical section through the machine with parts omitted.

Figure 4: is a section on line 4.--4 of Figure 2. c

Figure 5 is a fragmentary section on line 55 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail of the mechanism for adjusting the supporting rollers.

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation of the drive for the supporting rollers. Figure 8 is an enlarged front elevation of the winding reel. Y

Figure 9 is an enlarged sectional detail of the friction adjusting mechanism for the winding reel.

FigurelO 1s a section on the line 10-10 of Figure 9.

Figure 11 is a section on line 11-11 of Figure 9. Figure 12 is a section on line 12-'12 of Figure 9.

Figure 13 1s a fragmentary vertical section through the winding reel and the shuttle showing parts in elevation. v I

As shown on the drawings:

The machine is supported in 'a suitable cast metal frame 1, which isprovided with a pair of spaced overhanging arms 2. For transmitting power .to the'various mechanisms a drive shaft 3 is journaled in the frame 1 extending longitudinally between the arms 2, and having its outer end journaled in a bracket l, which is integral with the frame 1. For connecting said drive shaft 3 with a source of power, a pulley 5 is secured thereon between the bracket 4 and the frame 1. For supporting the tire casing 6, a pair of supporting rollers 7 and 8 is provided. Said rollers 7 and 8 are journaled in a frame 9, which is slidably supported between the vertical tracks 10 which are secured in the frame 1. V

In order that the rollers 7 and 8 may support tire casings of various diameters properly, provision is made for adjusting said rollers vertically along the tracks 10. For this purpose the cable 11 is engaged under apair of pulleys 12-, which are journaled at on iosite sides of the frame 9. Qu end of 1 cable 11 is secured to the upper end of f the tracks 10 at 13,.as shown in Fig- Said cable 11 extends from the oposi e side of the frame 9 upwardly along; the rack 10, engaging the guide pulleys 14 and 15 and is secured to the drum 16 which is journaled in a bracket 17 in the frame 1. Said drum 16 is secured on shaft 18 and a worm gear 19 is also secured on said shaft. A worm 20 which is secured on the lower end of a vertical shaft 21, which is journaled in the frame 1 at 22 engages said worm gear 19. Consequently rotating said shaft 21 will rotate the worm gear 19 and the drum 16, thus causing the frame 9 and the rollers 7 and 8 to be adjusted vertically in the tracks 10 by the lengthening or shortening of the cable 11. A crank 23 is provided on the upper end of the shaft 21 for rotating the same.

A friction drive mechanism is provided for rotating the roller 7. Secured on the shaft 3 insid the arms 2 are a pair of spaced friction plates :24 and 25. Secured on the upper end of the vertical shaft 26, which is journaled in the frame 1, is a horizontal friction disk 27., which is adjustable vertically between the friction disks 2% and 25 and adapted to selectively engage said disks by moving laterally to engage either the disk or disk 25 or to assume a neutral position between saiddisks. This lateral adjustment is effected by a transverse forked member 28 engaged over the-disk 27 and secure-d to the upper end'of the shaft 26. The

outer end of said forked member 28 is connected in a link bar 29, which invt urn is pivotally connected to the connecting link 30, which is pivoted to the frame 1 at 31, as clearly shown in Figure .2. A toggle 32 is engaged in a recess 33', which is provided in the upper endof the, connectinglink 80 and said toggle is secured on the outer end of a shaft which is journaled trans versely in the frame 1. For rotating the ias reoe ably r ed around the upper end of the sl aft 26 a .l the upper end of said sleeve 37 acaptec to en arge the lower fork of the member 28 direc ly beneath the friction disk 27., Engaged in the longitudinal notches in said sleeve are horizontal pins 38 of the toggle 39, which is secured on a shaft 40 1o rnsled in brackets 41 on the frame 1.

he sleeve 8'? is pro ed with a pair of c l iorizontal PIOJBCtlOIlS 42, and the rounded end 313 of the link a l is engaged between projections. Said link 44 is ecured on the outer end of a transverse haft and is adapter to be moved by the otation of said shaft. For rotating the aft 45, a lever 26 is secured to the end ere-of on the outside of the frame 1. The pper end of said lever is guided by straps 7 secured to the arm 2 shown in Figllilovement of the lever 4:6 rotates the i5 and the attached link 44, thereby or lowering the sleeve 37, and since saio sleeve 3'? engages the underside of the;

forked member 28 said forked member 28 and the disk 2? and shaft 26 are adjusted vertically between the disk. 2% and 25. The vertical shaft 26 is of cour e slidable vertically in the frame 1 and allowance is also made for a certain amount of lateral moveengages the worm l9 and the shaft and the roller 7 are consequently driven thereby.

For supporting the rotatable shuttle an incomplete annular frame 51 is secured transversely between the ends of the arm 2, and a horizontal flange 52 on said engages the rollers which are journaled in a plate 54:. A cover plate 55 is secured to the frame 51 and extends outwardly over the rollers 53. The incomplete annular plate 56 is rotatably engaged around the flange 52 and the rollers 53 are pivoted on 'shafts 5'7 between said plate 56 and the plate 54- as clearly shown in igures 3 and 13'. A sprocket wheel 58 is secured on the outer end of each of the shafts 57, adjacent the inv ently exerted ner side of the plate 54, ,and a chain is engaged over said sprockets and the idler sprockets 6O which are journalled on a stub shaft projecting from the plate 56..

This arrangement assures a positive drive for the reel 71 at all positions of the shuttle and obviates difficulties heretofore, encountered in jumping the gap in the incomplete annular shuttle frame.

For rotating the shuttle a belt 61 1s engaged over the rollers 53 between the peripheral flanges thereon underneath thecoyer plate 9, said flanged rollers also being engaged over a vertically projecting flange or peripheral projection 52 on the horizontal-flange 52. The belt 61 is engaged 'between the peripheralflanges on theffiction disk and is thus driven from" the drive shaft 3. Said belt. 61 extends upwardly from the friction disk 25' over idler pulleys V 62 and 63 which are supported in brackets on rocking, of the, bracket 'on the pivot 66 anda consequent adjustment of the tension on the belt 61. Dueto theiaeti'on ofthe spring 67 the tension on 'said'belt is alwaysres'ili- An extension 70.isfor1ned on one ofthe shafts 57 and the wihding reel 71 is rOta-' tably carried on said extensionlshaft; Said winding reel71'is providedwith a friction plate 72' on the inner side thereof, andsaid winding reel and friction plate may beadjusted longitudinally on the extension shaft 7O' by the internally threaded sleeve 73,

which engages'the threaded portion 74 on the outer end of the extension 70. Ballbearings 75 are mounted in a recess in the outer end ofthe winding reel 71jand co 1l"sp r1ng 7 6 is insertedbetween sa1dfballbear1ngs'75 and the outerend of sleeve 7 3, as" clearly shown in Figure 13. The'sleeve73 is' lockjed in adjusted position on the" threaded pon tion 74 by plate 77; which has in-177 engaged in the end of"said"sleeye, saidfplate being engaged overthesquared shanli 7 of a set screw79twhiehisjengaged'in a threaded recess in the end of'the extension shafwo.

' intlie locking plate 77; asshown 'clearlyyin 7 Figures 8 an'dLl-K,

A friction plate' 81 a" 'fi6ating fric tion disk 82 is slidably but not rotatably The bracket supporting theidler mountedon the shaft" extension and adapted to engage the friction plate 72 on the winding reel 71, whereby said winding reel 71 willbe frictionally driven from the rotatable shaft 57 and the extension 70 thereon; p v

Meanstare provided for adjusting the'frictional engagement of the plates 81 and '7 2. An anti-friction ball bearing 83, whichis slidable on the extension shaft 7 O, is adapted tovb'e engaged in a-recess in the back of the plate 81 and to exert. a varying pressure on saidplater A lever 84, the upper end "of whieh is forked ahdIprovidedfwith pins85,

which engage the rear plate of the ball bearing 83',is pivoted on the plate 54"at 85 as clearly shown in Figure 9. A coilspring 87'is engaged aroundthe stub shaft 86, her

tween the plate 54 and the lever 84, and.

said lever 84 is" adapted to be rocked in-: -wardly or outwardly about the pin 85 'in the plate 54, which is engaged in a ,recess in said leverintermediate the end'thereof; as

clearly shown in Figures 9' and 13; This rocking of the lever 84 is of course trans- L mitted to the anti-friction bearing assembly 83 through-the pins 85 and acts to vary the amount of frictional engagement of the'plate 81 with the plate 72. Means are provided for automatieally rocking the lever 84 to vary the amount of frictional engagement between the plates 81 and 72in accordance with the amount of; flexible material 88 which is wound on the reel 71. A lever 89 engagesthe periphery of the roll of flexible material 88 on the reel 71, and the inner end of sai'dlever 89 is" provided with a sleeve 90, which, rotatablyfengages, the pivot 86 and is secured thereon b'y set screw '91 engagedin the outer end thereof! A cam recess 92is formed in the inner end ofthe sleeve 90 and a pin 98 on the lower end'of the lever 84 is engagedin said recess. Consequently an inwardor outwardfmovement of thelever 89 caused by an increase or diminution in the size of the roll of'flexible material 88"Willcause the cam surface 92 to vary the pressure on the pin 93'and thus rock the lever 94 inwardly or outwardly alo' 'ou't'th'e pivot185 The tendency of the coiledspring 87 is ofcourse to hold the I lever 89 inwardly and the'increasing size of the rollofflexible material 88 forces said vlever 8 9 outwardly against the action of'said I spriiigi increasing the friction between the plates 81and'72.

The Ine' hamsm 1 supportsa bracket 95, on which the'guiding rollersg96 are'r'otatably carried. Saidguiding rollers96 engage the sides oftheftire casin feand guide the upper portion there of. mce this mechanism is pivotally can p v or guiding the upper 'portionof'the tire'eiasing cortiprises'the rod 94;. which is secured between the arms 2' in rear of"tlie frame 61 and which'pivotally 1 perpendicular planes,, the rotation of the I is positively rotated when the shuttle is 1(.--'-

justably secured in said bracket.

guide pm is adapted to engage the str p or placed in the machine or removed therefrom, a hand wheel 98 is provided on the outer end thereof. The shaft is driven by belts (not shown) from the pulley 99 on the drive-shaft 3.

A bracket 100 issecured on the shuttle near one end of the incomplete annular frame plate 54.- and a guide pin 1.01 is ad- Said flexible material which is being unwound from the tire casing 6 and to align said strip so that it will be properly wound on-the winding reel 71. I

The operation for wrapping is as follows: The tire casing on which the wrapping is to be applied is rolled on the platform 97 and placed inposition on the supporting rollers 7 and 8. The frame 9 and said supporting members are then adjusted vertically in the tracks 10 for rotating the crank 23 and thus actuating the shaft 21 to wind or unwind the cable 11 on the drum 16. A

pair of guiding rolls 96 rest on the casing to guide the upper portion thereof. In vestingv material which is to be wound around the tire casing is led from receiving means on the winding reel 71, and held se I rotated whenever the shuttle is rotated, the

curely against thecasing. The lever 35 is now actuated to bring the horizontal friction disc 27 in contact with one of the friction discs 24 or 2-5, depending upon the direction of rotation desired, and power is applied to the drive shaft 3 through the pulley 5. As the shuttle and the tire casing are simultaneously rotated in substantially shuttle through the tire will cause thestri p of investing materlal from the reel 71 to be woundspirally about the tire. The reel (1 V tated, and the material which is being unwound from said reel will be wound on the tire casing. The automatically regulated friction mechanism automatically adjusts the tension on the strip of material which is being wound on the casing, said tension constantly decreasing. as the. material is unwound from the reel. 7

By adjusting the lever 41 to adjust the horizontal friction disc 27 vertically, the

relative speed of rotation of the tire and further shifting of the lever.

aeaaoe rollers 7 and 8. The frame 9 and said supporting rollers are then adjusted vertically in the tracks 10 by rotating the crank 23, and thus actuating the shaft 21 to wind or unwind the cable 11 on thedrum 16. The upper guiding rolls 96 rest on the casing to guide the upper portion thereof. The investing material which iswound around the tire casing is engaged around the guide pin The 101 and securedon receivingmeans 71.

lever 35 is now actuated to bring the hori-l zontal friction disk 27 in contact with the one of the friction disks 24 or 25, depending upon the direction'of rotation desired, and power is applied to the drive shaft 3 through the pulley 5. Since the shuttle andthe'tire are simultaneously rotated in substantially perpendicular planes, the rotation of the shuttle through the tire will cause the strip of investing material to be'unwound from the tire.

In case thetire. rotates faster than thematerial can be unwound therefrom the ro tation of the driving roller 7 may be tem- 'porarily stopped by simply shifting the disk 27 laterally to neutral position by operating the lever 35, or reversed if necessary by This permits of running the machine at very high speeds and adds greatly to the effectiveness thereof.

Since the winding reel 71 is positively material which is being unwound from the tire casingwill bewound on said reel. The

ther to align the strip of flexible materialwvith the winding material and thus assures correct alignment of said flexible material on the roll 88." The provision of this aligning pin makes it unnecessary'to accurately align the tire with the shuttleas has been imperative in former machines; The vertical adjustment of the horizontal friction plate 27 makes possible theadjustment ofthe relative speed of rotation of the rotatable 'shuttle'and the tire casing. Since saidrotatable shuttle is driven at aconstant speed by the belt 61 on the 'pul ley25, and .sincefthe shaft of the tire supporting roll 7 is driven from the horizontal 27fmoving said horizontal disk 27 inwardly or outwardly toward or from said drive shaft 3 will vary the speed of rotation thereof. This vertical adjustment of the plate 27 is obtained by actuating the lever 47.

The above specification has shown and described the machine of this invention as used in wrapping and unwrapping tires. It is not, however, purposed to limit the invention to this use as the machine disclosed is adapted to be used for wrapping and unwrapping a variety of objects.

I am aware that numerous details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and I therefore do not purpose limiting the patent granted otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention-:

1. In a machine of the class described, a rotatable shuttle, a reel rotatably mounted on the shuttle, and a chain drive for rotating the reel enclosed by the shuttle.

2. In a wrapping and unwrapping machine, an incomplete annular frame, an incomplete annular shuttle rotatable therein, winding means on said shuttle, and a mechanism enclosed by the shuttle for positively driving the winding means.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two sub scribing witnessesr FRANK M. PIERCE.

Witnesses:

CARLTON HILL, EARL M. HARDINE. 

